New Mexico Indicts Outfitter Believed Living in Virginia

A New Mexico hunting outfitter has been indicted on attempted tax evasion charges for allegedly not filing or paying more than $36,000 in gross receipts taxes owed to the state from 2006-09.

According to the Cibola Beacon, a Santa Fe grand jury on June 19 returned an indictment against Kevin L. Sears, 47, on six counts of attempts to evade or defeat tax.

The Beacon said Sears is believed to be living in Virginia and operates Southern Divide Trophy Outfitters in New Mexico. He runs outfitted hunts on several different ranches in western New Mexico from the Grants to Gallup area south to Quemado.

“This individual has blatantly ignored our laws and then boldly made statements to his customers regarding the ability to stay under the radar by dealing in cash,” Demesia Padilla, Cabinet Secretary for the State Taxation and Revenue Department, told the newspaper. “No one is above the law when it comes to paying their fair share of taxes; and we will go after anyone who tries to defraud our taxpayers.”